Achi news desk-
Central Okanagan Regional District staff are raising concerns that recent provincial housing mandates will spur more density in sparsely populated rural neighborhoods before they’re ready for it.
According to a report to the board later this week, recent changes to provincial legislation under Measure 44, the Housing Statutes Amendment Actrequire that residential lots in the RDCO electoral districts must now allow a secondary suite and/or accessory dwelling unit.
“The potential residential density in the electoral areas could double,” the regional region report read.
According to BC Assessment data, around 25 per cent of lots in the electoral areas are currently vacant, so a full build-up scenario under the Small Scale Multi-Unit Housing legislation could result in a 166 per cent increase in the number of residential units.
Furthermore, it is not clear whether secondary rooms are ideal either, and district staff pointed to a report in 2017 to highlight their concerns.
According to district staff, a technical stakeholder review team including hydrogeologists, groundwater technicians, on-site wastewater practitioners, and representatives from Interior Health evaluated whether it was sustainable to allow rooms on all lots in the RDCO and found that
The cumulative effects of increased density can cause drainage and slope stability challenges.
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These stability challenges would be particularly severe in areas without access to a community sewer and without proper drainage schemes.
“Due to infrastructure and service limitations in the electoral areas, without sound policies and regulations, additional density could increase risks to public health, safety, or the environment,” read the report that staff is sending to elected officials.
“Proposed amendments to the bylaw and related analysis will require significant staff resources, and our ability to meet the deadline for compliance with legislation is further constrained by ongoing commitments to support residents of the affected by the Rock White Lake and McDougall Creek wildfires.”
Local governments are currently required to adopt bylaw amendments by June 30 to allow housing at the prescribed density.
If they do not, local governments can apply for time-based extensions in accordance with the criteria outlined by the Ministry of Housing.
Staff are preparing an application to the Ministry of Housing asking for an 18 month extension to the deadline to carry out technical analysis and implement policy needed to ensure communities can be intensified appropriately and without exacerbating potentially dangerous conditions .
& copy 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
